Extension or trouble light with magnetic supporting means



E. M. HAULTER 2,987,612

EXTENSION OR TROUBLE LIGHT WITH MAGNETIC SUPPORTING MEANS June 6, 1961 Filed Feb. 17, 1960 Illini!!! United States Patent() 2,987,612 EXTENSION OR TROUBLE LIGHT WITH MAG- NETIC SUPPORTING MEANS Earl M. Haulter, 200 N. Penn St., Shippensburg, Pa. Filed Feb. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 9,377 4 Claims. (Cl. 240-`52.15)

This invention relates to extension or trouble lights, and to means for supporting the same.

An object of the invention is to provide an extension or trouble light having simplified and highly compact permanent magnet supporting means adjustably secured thereto so that the trouble light may be readily secured magnetically to any readily available surface or structure formed of paramagnetic material.

Another object of the invention is to provide magnetic supporting means for an extension or trouble light which will aiord a maximum grip or holding force upon the metallic structure to which the trouble light is magnetically secured during use. y

A further object is to provide improved permanent magnet supporting means for a trouble light, and which may be adjusted vor oriented with respect to the light reector, while the permanent magnet supporting means is disposed in the most effective gripping position relative to the metallic structure, upon which the light is supported.

Still another object is to provide permanent magnet supporting means for an extension or trouble light constructed so as to occupy a minimum of space, while affording a maximum holding or gripping action with the metallic structure upon which the light is mounted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an extension or trouble light according to the invention and showing the same magnetically supported upon a vertical support surface.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through the trouble light, parts in elevation.

.FIGURE 3 is a horizontal transverse section taken on line 3+3 of FIGURE 2.

kFIGURE 4 is a fragmentary central vertical section taken .on 'line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE` is an end elevation of the trouble light on a reduced scale and with parts omitted.

FIGURE 6 is a vfragmentary vertical section similar to FIGURE/i" andfillustrating a slight modification of the invention. Y

FIGURE 7 is `a` fragmentary side elevation of the elements shown in FIGURE 6.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownV preferred embodiments of the invention, attention -is directed lfirst to VFIGURES l through 5, wherein the numeral ,10 designates a lamp socket of any suitable type, adapted to receive a light bulb 11 secured therein,l and having an4 extension cord 12 of suitable length extending therefrom, as shown in the drawings.

A wire guard 13 is provided, preferably formed in companion halves or sections 14 and 15, so as to be readily separable to permit changing the bulb 11. The guard 13 is tapered at its end adjacent the socket 10, as shown at 16, and each guard section 14 and 15 carries at corresponding ends a semi-circular band section 17, adapted to surround and grip the neck of socket and to be detachably rigidly secured thereto by bolt means 18, engaging through apertured extensions 19 of the band section 17. i

The other or forward end of the guard 13 is likewise equipped with a band comprising mating semi-circular ICC band sections 20, permanently secured thereto, and having apertured radial vextensions 21, receiving fastener means 22,-serving to detachably rigidly secure the forward en d of the guard 13 to the permanent magnet supporting means presently to be described.

The design or shape of the guard 13 is immaterial and may be varied as desired.

A suitable light reector and shade 23 is suitably secured to the inner side of one guard section, as best shown in FIGURE 1, and this reflector may extend over the major portion of the area of the guard section carrying it or over a smaller area of the guard section if preferred.

A shallow rearwardly opening cylindrical cup or adapter 24 has its annular side wall engaged snugly between the band sections 20 and tightly gripped thereby when the fastener means 22 are tightened. VA ange 25 may be provided upon the inner end of the cup 24 to abut the inner edges of the band sections 20, as shown in FIGURE 2. The forward wall 26 of cup 24 is flat and preferably flush with the forward end of the guard 13, defined by the band sections 20.

A circular plate V27 lies just forwardly of the cup 24 and has a central counterbored opening 28, receiving rotatably a bolt 29, having an enlarged cylindrical head 30 at its forward end. The bolt 29 engages through a central opening 31 in the end wall 26 of the cup, and projects rearwardly into the cup-24 and carries Va nut 32, as shown. Preferably large at washers 33 are disposed upon opposite sides of the Wall 26, with one such washer interposed between the plate 27 and wall 26, as shown in the drawings. This arrangement adds rigidity to the structure without increasing its weight materially. The plate 27 is freely rotatable upon the bolt 29 and has sliding contact against the forwardmost flat washer 33.

A preferably plastic forwardly opening box-like rectangular magnet holder 34 is mounted upon the forward side of plate27, and rigidly secured thereto by screws or the like 35, engaging through registering openings in the plate 27 and side longitudinal flanges 36 of the holder 34, and integral therewith. As illustrated, the plastic holder 34 is elongated laterally or transversely of the longitudinal axis of the trouble light in one direction and for a purpose to be explained.

Disposed within the.plastic holder 34 in side-by-side or cdge-to-edge relation is a pair of strong rectangular permanent magnets 37, having their forward edges 38 projecting somewhat forwardly of the open end of holder 34. Armature plates 39 of paramagnetic material are also mounted within the holder 34, outwardly of and on opposite sides of the magnets 37 and contacting the same. Together, the magnets 37 and armature plates 39 fill the interior of the rectangular box-like holder 34. The forward edges of the armature plates 39 are flush with the forwardedges 3S of the magnets as best shown inFlG- URE 4. The magnets 3 7 and armature plates 39 are rigidly and detachably secured within the holder 38 by transverse bolt means 40, or the like. n lt has been discovered in practice that the holding or attracting power of the magnets 37 is greatly increased by the presence of the two paramagnetic plates 39 on opposite sides of the magnets. If these plates 39 are removed from the assembly, the holding power of the magnets 37 is considerably lessened. The permanent magnet structure as above described is considerably elongated transversely of the longitudinal axis of the trouble light, in one direction, as clearly shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The plate 27 is provided at one point near its periphery with a screw-threaded opening, receiving an adjusting or lock screw 41, selectively engageable Within any one of a plurality of circumferentially spaced adjustment openings 42 in the forward wall 26 of cup or adapter 24. This arrangement permits the permanent magnet assemblytincluding holder 34 and plate 27 to be turned or adjusted upon the longitudinal axisv of thebolt 29 and locked inthe selected adjusted position' relative to the reectorv23. Y n Y r This is an mportantfeature, because itis desirable duringV the supportof the light Aupon Ia vertical wall surface, FIGURE 1, to have the permanent magnet `holder 34 extending vertically longitudinally of the holder so as to' providerthe maximum magnetic holding force. That is to say, with the trouble' light supported horizontally upon a vertical wall surface, ,as indicated in FIGURE 1, the elongated permanent magnet assembly should always extend vertically to afford maximum resistance to tilting or pivoting of the magnet Vstructure under the influence of gravity and under the weight ofthe cord 12. The light will support itself however on a vertical wall surface withy some degree of efliciency, regardless of the angular disposition of the holder 34 and permanent magnet assembly. With my arrangement including the looking screw 41, the magnet holder 34 may always be arranged vertically on the vertical wall surface and the guard 13 may be adjusted circumferentially with the reflector 23 to the desired position and locked in such position by the screw 41 without disturbing the position of the magnet holder 34 and plate 27.

Obviously, the trouble light may be supported by the magnet means upon a surface which is horizontal r at any intermediate angle between horizontal and vertical. Tosupport the 4light in instances where no metallic supporting members are readily available, I provide a suitable wre bail 42 having a hook 43 for attachmentto 'any convenient support element. The bail 42 is pivoted to one of the band sections 20 as indicated at 44. The bail 42 may be omit-ted entirely if preferred.

In FIGURES 5 and l6 there is shown a slight modification of the Vmeans for releasably securing the plate 27 and associated elements in the selected adjusted position relative to the cup 24. The means shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 may be used instead of the locking screw41 and associated elements. The same openings 42 are employed in the forward wall 2.6 of the cup. A small spring detent element V45 is secured by weldingor, the like to the inner face of the plate 27 near the periphery of such plate and the resilient detent element 45 is selectively'enga'geable within the openings 42 when the plate 27 and associated elements isturned relative Vto the cup 24 upon the axis of the bolt 29. The detent element 45 cooperates with the openings 42 to releasably secure theA magnet assembly in the selected adjusted position relative to the guard 13 and reflector 23. The arrangementshown in FIGURES Y6 and 7, while not as positive in action as the screw 41, is somewhat more convenient and more time-saving for adjusting the relative posi- Vtions of the magnetstructure and guard 13.

YAIt is tovberunderstood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, Vand that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be re- .4 sorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention of the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

LA, portable extension..lightrcomprising light bulb socket means, ,a guard secured ftQfLQSKt meansin surrounding relation to the light bulb andzhaying areector part on `one `side rof the light bulb and extending forwardly of the light bulbV and socket means, circular band means carried by the forward end of said guard, a shallow vcylindrical cupelement engageable within theV band means and snugly held by the latter and .having a forward wall and being open at its side facing the light bulb, aplateelement arranged forwardly of the, cup element and close to the forward ,wall of the ,cup element, means rotatably connecting the plate element to the cupelement so that the plate element mayturnupon the .longitudinal axis of the extension light, detent means interconnecting said plate element and cup element so that the plate element may be releasably lockedin selected adjusted posi- .tions about the circumference of Athe. :up element, a forwardlyropening transversely elongated `Abox-'like magnet -holder secured to the forward side ofthe plate element and projecting forwardly thereof, and permanent magnet means mounted within said holder for holding engagement with a paramagnetic support structure. 2. An extension light comprising light bulb socket means, a guard including companion separable guard sections clamped about the socket means and enclosing the light bulb, a rearwardly opening Vshallow cylindrical cup, semi-circular clamp sections carried by the forwardends ofthe guard sectionsand clampingly engaging the periphery ofV said cup to hold the same stationary upon the guard, an axial bolt Velement carried by the forward wall of said cup and projecting into the `cup and forwardly thereof, a plate journaled upon the bolt element for rotation, a transversely elongated permanent magnet holder secured to the forward side of the plate, transversely elongated permanent magnet means within, said holder, a detent element carried by saidplate andprojecting rearwardly thereof, and interlocking meanson the forward wall of said cup and spaced circumferentially thereon for engagement by the detent element to releasably secure said platefin the selected adjusted position circumferential-ly of the cup. Y 1

3. An extension light according to claim 2, wherein said detent element is a screw carried by said plate for selective engagement with said interlocking means.

4. An extension light according to claim 2, wherein said detent element is a resilient leaf ,spring carried by said plate for selective engagement with said interlocking means.

References Cited in the'le of patent e Y UNITED STATES PATENTS Jenkins r en -Ian. 31, 1922 1,932,143 Piercy .Y;. Oct. 2.4, 1933 2,506,400 Wietz ...-May 2, 1950 2,669,650 Smith Y Feb. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 89,322 Germany sept. 1o, 1953 

